JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Industry Message Forum Music Store restricting Promotions

Not sure if his is the crest place on forum or not. If not sorry admins.

Shortly after my 3rd release of songs I went to one of the chain music stores. Just so I don't cause the admins any grief I won't name it. I had a flyer with QR codes for my album and two singles. The QR codes were linked to YOUTUBE, ITUNES and AMAZON . I went in there today and saw it had been removed. I thought ok maybe they leave things up for a couple weeks and clear the board which would be fine. Thinking that I went up to an employee to inquire. He said no we don't do that. So I mention the flyer. The response was you are allowed to promote, gigs. look for bands, ask for musicians or post if you give lessons. You cannot advertise a product you can make money off of. Ok In a sense I could get this however How is Promoting a Gig or advertising music lessons any different. If anything since their second source of income is music lessons you would think that would be restricted. Curious if anyone else has encountered this. The whole flyer thing was a test anyway. Just trying to figure out how a flyer on a bulletin board they claim is up to help local talent is a problem.

JK,

I can explain this one for you. First, imagine how hard it is to sell your music. Hard right? Even to fans, it's hard. Now, imagine trying to sell your music to people who have not heard of you, and have not heard of your music. That's is WAY harder. Now, add to that, imagine trying to sell your music to people who are also trying to sell their music? Impossible unless you are already an artist that has a connection with or direct meaning to the musician who might see it. So, in essence, there is no benefit to be had. Today nearly any musician who can play through a song (their own or someone else's) has recorded it and posted it somewhere, often for sale. 99% of musicians who do not tour, do not have a fan mailing list of more than 100, do not have support staff or at least active bandmates also promoting the band, sell almost no music, ever. A music store has clients, I would bet that over 75% of them have a song posted and available somewhere, maybe even more depending on your market and the busyness of the store. It would simply be a distraction of benefit to no one at all.

But if you are DETERMINED to post that you have music available to people who will not likely have the slightest interest in a FREE copy, let alone to buying it, then here's how to do it:

Post a note about you being a musician (don't know if you are a band or what exactly) and on it ask a question of interest: Seeking Artists to Share Gigs With, Seeking Writers to Co-Write with, Seeking Good Venues to Perform In, Have a gig, want to find other musicians to share my shows with, Looking for a producer to help record future songs, Looking for a studio to record in, Looking for a manager to help with my career, Looking for good open mics, Looking to host an open mic, who is interested and so and so forth. All those postings will give you a chance to explain who you are, what you are specifically hoping to find, and offer up info on where your music is available (no need to say it is for sale, it is implied automatically) and include the same links you wanted to post. That way EVERYONE is happy. And if any of those goals/ideas ALSO appeal to you, perhaps you'll get a good lead. You could even post "I am looking for someone to share contacts and ideas with about selling your music, if interested, here is my info blah blah blah... and you got your posting AND fit their rules. Sadly, it's unlikely to produce a single sale, but there's a slight chance someone might, out of curiosity, check out your music that way. If it is AMAZING, maybe they buy it. Don't hold your breath though.

To really sell, you need lots of real people working with you with similar goals to share tips and tricks and possibly even work with to make better music that you are now, even if you're in a full band. There's always sound people or manager wannabes etc. to hook up with. It's fun and even moreso with more people no matter your situation.

Good luck,

Brian

PS: The only practical place to promote your music is to people who know you or know OF you, or at live performances. If you don't have either of those options, then you need to develop it or focus on trying to get good enough to place music on TV or Film etc. That's where reality is today.

Thanks for the input see good things to think about.

This is the problem also with most "post your music sites". The only people who go there are other musicians doing the same thing.

On spotify or itunes you're in a place to be heard, but without a name you might as well not be there at all.

It's like trying to sell ice cubes in Siberia.

The idea of posting a lyric here is to engage with other writers in hopes of getting better. It also acts as a copyright since it is now fixed to a tangible medium.

Better to post it than to let it die in a pile of papers to be tossed out by family when you die.

Thats what makes it better than soundclick or soundcloud, which is simply a place to dump your mp3s